Lack of political, social connections limiting economic aspiration among youth – New study discloses

A study conducted by the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR) in Ghana has revealed that limited financial resources and a lack of social and political connections are significant obstacles for the country’s youth in achieving their economic goals.

The study is dubbed “Economic Aspirations of Ghanaian Youth: Implications for Youth Employment Policies and Programmes in the Post-COVID-19 Era.”.

The key objective of the study was to ascertain the aspirations, resilience, and strategies of African youth amid challenging circumstances such as policy limitations and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The researchers identified three primary economic aspirations among Ghanaian and African youth: the desire to establish their own businesses, pursue a combination of formal employment and entrepreneurship and accumulate wealth.

The Mastercard Foundation’s Country Director, Rosy Fynn, speaking at the launch of the study said “This study shows that young people have multifaceted aspirations that we need to consider in our work to enable young women and men access dignified and fulfilling work,” she said.

“It is how can we then create enough opportunities or provide enough incentives for young people to own their own businesses and ventures.

“Other policy recommendations are to find opportunities for supporting young people financially in accessing financial capital, building their own opportunities in terms of how the business environment is favouring them and also other avenues in which young people can be supported and mentored,” he said.

Source: ghanaweb.com